BAM: Safeguard Foreday Morning

Head of the Barbados Association of Masqueraders (BAM), Bryan Worrell has reiterated his call for authorities to safeguard the legacy of Foreday Morning and other key Crop Over events, amid growing concern that private parties are drawing revellers away from the island’s flagship j’ouvert celebration.

Speaking against the backdrop of unease among Foreday band leaders, Worrell revealed that after organisers took formal steps to submit a petition to the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) and the Ministry of Culture, discussions have been ongoing to formalise a solution to the growing concern among bandleaders. 

“We really pushed in our submission… that a registry should be something that should be done.

“Where the national events – Grand Kadooment, Foreday Morning, Bridgetown Market — there are certain events on the national calendar that I believe should be protected events in terms of competing things,” Worrell explained. 

He warned that the issue extends beyond Foreday Morning, cautioning that other major Crop Over fixtures could face similar challenges if action is not taken.

“What’s to say that in another year or two that Grand Kadooment doesn’t come under the same threat that Foreday Morning is?” he asked. “So it has been an issue to say, ‘We don’t like these bands having these jumps on the same night’…We think it’s pulling away from the event.”

While recent attention has focused on Twisted Entertainment – organisers of the popular Tipsy Music Festival – Worrell stressed that the concern is broader, pointing to a steady increase in similar private events over time.

“The power to stop that really comes from if there’s a registry. The only other change could be legislative… At this point, [it’s about] brokering some sort of understanding… and getting a shift in date,” he said.

Such an arrangement, he added, would help ensure the viability of the approximately 40 band leaders who take part in Foreday Morning.

Outside of Twisted Entertainment launching their own private jump this year, other new private foreday events have subsequently been announced, including Stain’d, which has the support of Vida by Esquire (VXE) and other local partners.

Addressing concerns about safety, often cited by some revellers as a reason for choosing private events, Worrell pushed back firmly, insisting there is no evidence to suggest the official Foreday Morning celebration is unsafe.

“There is no data that says that Foreday Morning is an unsafe event. For the last…10 or even more years there haven’t been any major incidents that have been reported,” he maintained.

He underscored the extensive security framework supporting the event, including collaboration with law enforcement and emergency services.

“Each registered band has its own security, along with the police service, along with the BDF on the route, along with excellent lighting… ambulance services are there to respond, so we have everything in place that will make your event safe and sound,” Worrell said.

Worrell also underscored Foreday Morning’s importance as a cultural and tourism asset, noting its strong appeal to international visitors.

“Foreday has always had a lot of visitors…It is an event that a lot of people coming into Barbados like to participate in because it’s an authentic Barbadian event.

“That’s why we feel so strongly about it…as one of the highlighted events on the calendar that it should [have] that additional protection to ensure that it lives on,” Worrell maintained.

When contacted on the status of ongoing talks with band leaders on the issue, Akil Franklin, corporate communications specialist at the National Cultural Foundation, opted not to comment.

(SB)